The Anesthesia Chart
Marianne Cosgrove, CRNA, DNAP, APRN
The Anesthesia Chart
• Varies from institution to institution
– May have different records within the same
institution
• Must all have the same basic core of info
that is to be documented
– Includes:
• Preanesthetic evaluation/informed consent
• Intraoperative anesthetic care/data
• Immediate postanesthesia VS/care
Basic Data
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Patient ID
Provider information
Equipment checks
SOC Monitors
VS (baseline and intraoperative)
Line placements
Medications (rationale and response where applicable)
Techniques
I/O (fluids, EBL, U/O)
Pt. positioning and interventions
Start/stop times
Procedures performed
The Anesthesia Chart
• Records information in a sequential manner
– Usually in a grid format
– Allows for frequent chronological charting
• Events must correlate to each other on a vertical
axis
– Will have 2 parts
• Original for the pt’s chart
• Copy for anesthesia group’s records
– Utilized for QA, M & M, chart reviews
The Anesthesia Chart
• There may be overlap re: pt
identification, time out, positioning,
certain types of equipment, locals,
antibiotics, etc. with the OR record
• During a malpractice case, the chart
will be evidence—may be expanded to
poster size for the jury to see
The Anesthesia Chart
• 90% of medical malpractice cases are
won based on the contents of the
anesthesia chart
• Coffee break, lunches, other
provider turnovers and handoffs are
the most dangerous points of any
case secondary to inadequate
communication
Pt’s “blue
plate”
stamped
here; note
DOB and
insurance
codes
Insurance codes:
Q, M = Medicare
R (rare) = Railroad
Medicare
D, J, Y =
Medicaid (state
welfare)
E = City welfare
N, K, B =
Commercial
insurance
Pre-op
assessment
found on the
back of the
chart
You may
need to
refer back
to the pt’s
chart to
complete
the note
i.e. labs,
etc
Make sure
that an
attending
has signed
before going
to the OR
These
sections
should be
completed
during initial
chart review
before you
enter the OR
Start time
is always
on the
quarter
hour just
before
time of
stamp
Stamp in
and
correlate
start times
on chart
Small lines =
5 mins
Medium lines =
15 mins
Dark lines =
1 hour
5/31
0730 ●
0730
●
0800 ●
Δ
●
0900 ●
Δ
● 1000
●
Δ
●
1100
●
Δ
0800
Δ
●
0900 ●
Δ
● 1000
●
Δ
●
1100
●
Δ
●
0733
Military
time is
preferred
CRNAs and
MDAs sign
or cosign
here
SRNAs sign
where
CRNAs
do
Wait to fill
in post-op
diagnosis
and
procedure
until the
end of the
case
Both of
these
attributes
are very
important
according to
JCAHO and
Medicare
Part B
Done with the
anesthesia team,
surgeon, and
circulator in
attendance preincision
New charts say
“patient
identification”
here
Should be
documented as
given pre-incision
unless surgeon
requests
otherwise
(listed as a
Medicare P4P
measure)
Eyes—OK
to circle;
put 
Teethchart
“intact” or
“as pre-op”
IV/A-line—
chart
gauge/
location,
“in situ” if
applicable
Note type of
airway, blade
size (if used),
attributes of
laryngoscopy,
breath
sounds
May add
“+ ETCO2”
Note any
difficulties in
“remarks”
section
Note
anesthetic
agents
here i.e.
IV
induction
meds,
narcotics,
benzos,
gases,
muscle
relaxants
May add
pressors
like neo
and
ephedrine
When
charting
meds,
use
qualifiers
such as
mg, mcg,
NOT cc
or ml
6
AIR
sevoflurane
midazolam
fentanyl
glyco/SCh
propofol
rocuronium
ephedrine
2
1
1
2%
1.5
50
150
0.2/100
120
5
10
25
2
X
1
6
0.8
X
50
10
50
10
Note
anesthetic
agents
here i.e.
IV
induction
meds,
narcotics,
benzos,
gases,
muscle
relaxants
May add
pressors
like neo
and
ephedrine
These are
entered
approximately
q 15 mins
ECG
labels—
SR, SB,
SR/PVC,
AF,
Paced, AS
TempCº
FiO2,
ETCO2actual
values if
intubated;
(+), NC if
MAC
SaO2, BISactual
values
PA/CVP,
C.O.
actual
values
FluidsList type,
i.e. LR,
0.9 ns,
PRBC,
hespan or
albumin
here
May chart
vasoactive
gtts either
here or in a
lower “agent”
row
Fluidslist type
and volume,
i.e. LR 1000,
0.9 ns 250,
PRBC,
hespan or
albumin
here
50/50
LR 1000
#1
Hextend 500
PRBC
#2
25/75
#3
+/-150

10/85
+/-400
X
#1
X
label totals
in ml!
U/O done
q 1/2º;
amount
emptied
over total
amount
Blood loss (EBL)
entered when
applicable and
totaled at end
VS are charted
q5 min throughout
the case
Write in
“Resp” here
SV=
spontaneous
ventilation
A=assisted
72/23;
HR 129
V
V
●
●
●
V
V
V
Resp
SV
A
C
Vent
V
C=controlled
V=ventilator
161/100;
HR 121
122/48;
HR 80
codes
used are
listed on
the L
side of
the VS
area
Remarks
include
normal and
untoward
events, meds
administered
other than
anesthetic
agents and
ABX
Chart in detail
but be succinct
May use
“number
system” or
simply chart
times
Symbol
for
incision =

Symbol
for end
of case =



“Time of
remarks” is
utilized if
using the
number
system to
correlate
remark times
and to mark
incision and
end of case
New
charts
have
position
listed
here
Use check
boxes for pt
position;
expand on or
further
explain in the
“remarks”
section

LLD
L3-4
#22g
Betadine X 3
Bupivacaine 0.5% 3 ml @1325
No heme, paresthesia
Regional
anesthetics
charted here
using check
boxes; enter
time, type
and volume of
local used
under
“medication”
Attending
anesthesiologist
must sign all 3 to
fulfill Medicare
Part A
requirements;
may write in
N/A for
emergence if
case is a MAC
Totals must
always be filled
in at the end of
the case;
random spot
checks done by
QA committees
Pg 2 of 2
Start time
should
correspond
to the last
time
entered on
the previous
sheet
1130
1130
●
●
1200 ●
1200
●
See pg
one
Δ etc…
Δ etc…
See pg
one
If the case
runs longer
than 4
hours, you
will need to
start
another
record
Totals and
post-op
disposition
should be
entered on
pg 1
New
anesthesia
chart—
Essentially
the same
with the
addition of
1) “transfer
to PACU”
box,
2
2) change of
Pt ID for
time out,
and 3) new
position area
3
1
Delineates
end of the
case; pt
disposition
(i.e. PACU,
unit, etc);
times and
VS
PLEASE
STAMP
OUT;
time
clocks in
both
PACUs
Write in
manually
if you are
in the
unit,
OTF, etc.
“The White Card”
It’d better be
right!!!
This is sent
to the
billing
office; most
important
to have
everything
legible and
correct!
AANH
torture chamber
“Weren’t you told to write legibly on the white cards?”
I wrote down the
wrong diagnosis—
what’d you do?
Do not use the following abbreviations:
• < or >
• 1.0 (do not use trailing zero)
• .5 (do not omit a zero before a decimal point)
• U or μg (write out “units” or mcg for micrograms)
• MgSO4 (write out magnesium sulfate)
• Mso4 or MS (write out morphine)
• cc (use ml)
• These and others are found at the bottom of HSR
Progress notes and on the hospital web site
Major problems associated
with charting
•
•
•
•
•
Failure to document emergence
Failure to date, time and sign entries
Failure to document positioning
Failure to tally drugs, fluids, output
Use of unapproved abbreviations (use of preprinted entries is best)
• Unexplained entries (should provide a rationale as
to why a medication was given if not obvious)
• Illegibility
• Incompleteness (errors of omission)
Other problem areas associated
with charting…
• Mechanical ventilation
• Antibiotic administration (particularly pre-incision
timing)
• Provider changeovers
• 7 TEFRA requirements
• Unexplained gaps
• Inclusion of pt ID and "time outs"
• Erasures, gaps, and alterations to the record
(these raise inferences of errors, inattention, and
falsification of data)
Remember:
• Write legibly; check spelling
• Black ink may be mandatory in some institutions
– Blue ink now thought to be OK; easily delineates the original
record from a copy
• Document events briefly but comprehensively
• Cross out errors with a single line and write “error” next to
it; add your initials
• Do not go back and add to or alter the original chart
– Additions may be made in the progress notes
• Add up totals (meds, fluids) at the end of the case and
record them
• Pay attention to detail
• Always use labels
• Write N/A through areas that are not used
• DON’T FORGET TO STAMP OUT; write in the end time if
you are off of the floor (in OB, the unit, Specials, MRI, etc)
EPIC is here!!
• Basic concepts remain the same
however:
– VS will be automatically charted
– Capability to go into EPIC to change VS
errors 2° artifact (i.e. Bovie, transducer
near floor…)
• Each change is documented by the computer!
• ? Setup for error in obtaining history
– Template is present (basic note) which
allows for 1-click history/physical!
Remember:
• Don’t focus on the chart/EPIC
– Focus on the pt!
– VS are recorded on the monitors
• Go back into trends/VS when time allows
• Have patience
– Everyone has their own way of charting
• Be flexible
• Learn a bit from each person